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| Rajasthan |
Geographically, the largest state of India Rajasthan has a population of 56.4 million. It has the diverse social, cultural, economic and geographical conditions. Ratio of rural and urban population is 77:23. Population growth rate is 28.33% which is higher than that of the country (21.34%). Population density is 165 as compared to all India average of 324. The sex ratio is 922 and literacy rate among male and female is 61.03% and 44.43 % respectively. The state has one of the highest SC and ST populations as compared to other Indian states i.e. 17.29% and 12.44% respectively as against all India average of 16.7% and 8%. |
The state comprises 33 districts, seven divisions, 37,899 villages and having agriculture as the main source of economy. It has a long international border with Pakistan and state borders with several states.
Rajasthan has higher Maternal Mortality Rate and the Infant as well as Child Mortality rate as compared to the national average. Also the population carries a heavy burden of other communicable diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, gastro-enteritis and hepatitis. |
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| In the context of HIV in India, Rajasthan can be described as the highly vulnerable, high-priority state. Although HIV estimates for Rajasthan are erratic. Given the current level of knowledge regarding sexually transmitted infections (STI) and sexual behavior, particularly among vulnerable sub-populations, there are strong indications that Rajasthan is indeed a highly vulnerable state. As per the mapping exercise conducted in 2005-06 there are 21,301 Female sex workers, 3,350 Men having Sex with Men, 1,431 Intra Venous Drug Users, 268911 Migrants, 57342 Truckers. Major highways, Golden Quadrilateral and East West corridor, passing through the state and existence of rural tradition sex work add to its vulnerability. The sero prevalence of Rajasthan is 0.25% among general population and 1.92% in STD patients. Rajasthan has a special situation in terms of equal HIV prevalence rates of urban and rural areas, signifying the spread of disease and need for geo-focus strategy to reach.
As per the present situation stated above it was concluded that many socio-economical factors are responsible for making the disease epidemic with in the state. Statistically it has been seen that: |
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- Due to the large population of Rajasthan, even a small increase in HIV would translate into a large number of cases.
- Rajasthan contributing thousands of people annually migrating to higher prevalence states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, etc, and thousands are migrating in Rajasthan from other states like Bihar, west Bengal etc..
Rajasthan accounts for 19 percent of all mines in India, employing over 500,000 workers, many of them are from other states. |
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